Back massaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

A back massaging apparatus enabling a person to massage his or her back without outside help includes a frame defining guide tracks running adjacent to the person&#39;&#39;s spinal column and arranged to be supported on the person&#39;&#39;s shoulders. A carriage is mounted to move up and down the tracks, the carriage carrying a motor and first and second paddles actuated by the motor to move in a direction towards and away from the person&#39;&#39;s back to thereby pound the back in a manner simulating alternately chopping action of a masseur&#39;&#39;s hands. The entire spinal column from the neck to the lumbar region can be massaged by the patient pulling on cables connected to the carriage to move it up and down the tracks while the paddles are actuated by the motor.

United States Patent [191 Glore May 6,1975

[ BACK MASSAGING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Avis O. Glore, 11524 National Blvd., W. Los Angeles, Calif. 90064 [22] Filed: July 8, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 486,529

Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or FirmPastoriza & Kelly [5 7 ABSTRACT A back massaging apparatus enabling a person to massage his or her back without outside help includes a frame defining guide tracks running adjacent to the persons spinal column-and arranged to be supported on the persons shoulders. A carriage is mounted to move up and down the tracks, the carriage carrying a motor and first and second paddles actuated by the motor to move in a direction towards and away from the persons back to thereby pound the back in a manner simulating alternately chopping action of a masseurs hands. The entire spinal column from the neck to the lumbar region can be massaged by the patient pulling on cables connected to the carriage to move it up and down the tracks while the paddles are actuated by the motor.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACK MASSAGING APPARATUS This invention relates to a power operated massaging apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for massaging a persons spinal column.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that substantial relief of aches and pains in a person's back can be realized by a rapid alternate chopping motion of a masseurs hands up and down the spinal column. It is impossible for a patient, particularly when in agonizing pain, to effect such a massaging operation on his or her own back and thus a nurse or chiropracter or other person skilled in this particular art must be called in to carry out the massage process.

Not only are the services of an expert masseur, chiropracter, or other professional person expensive but in addition such person is not always available when a patient needs the massage in question.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the foregoing in mind. the present invention contemplates an automatic back massaging apparatus which can be operated by the patient to massage his or her own back at any convenient time. The apparatus is designed to provide a rapid alternate chopping or pounding action up and down the patients spinal column. resulting in remarkable and unexpected relief, particularly for arthritic patients.

Briefly. the invention contemplates the provision of a back frame defining guide track means running adjacent to a persons spinal column. A carriage means is movable along the track means such as by a simple pull cable passing over the patients shoulders so that he can move the carriage up and down by his hands from the front. A paddle means is carried by the carriage means together with a motor for actuating the paddle means in a direction towards and away from the patients back to thereby effect the desired chopping or pounding action as the carriage is moved up and down the track in the direction of the patients spinal column.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention will be had by referring to one embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the back massaging apparatus in position on a patients back;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the apparatus taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIG. 1, the back massaging apparatus includes left and right frame members and 11 shaped to engage over a persons back and at their upper ends over the persons shoulders as at 12 and 13 on either side of the neck 14. The frame members extend downwardly on either side of the patients spinal column to terminate at lower ends 15 and I6 adjacent to the persons lumbar region 17.

In order to stabilize the frame members to maintain the spacing therebetween substantially constant, upper and lower cross members 18 and 19 connect between the upper and lower end portions of the frame members as shown.

Essentially, each of the frame members 12 and 13 define track means for mounting a carriage20 for movement along the members to various positions between the persons neck and lumbar region.

As shown in FIG. I, the carriage 20 supports a motor 21 and first and second paddle means 22 and 23 carried by the carriage. The entire carriage structure may be manually moved up and down the tracks as by suitable cables 24 connecting to the left and right sides of the carriage and passing over the patients shoulder so that he can manually pull on the cables as indicated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be noted that one side of the carriage includes a block structure 25 the position of which may be vertically adjusted relative to a guide structure 26 as by a threaded screw 27. The first and second paddle means themselves each comprise a flexible bar 28 and associated pad 29 for the first paddle means and flexible bar 30 and associated pad 31 for the second paddle means. These pads are of semi-rigid material and simulate the edge of the palm of a persons hand.

The flexible bars 28 and 30 are cantilevered from the block 25 as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the flexible bars 28 and 30 extend transversely from one side of the carriage towards the other side. the bars themselves being biased to urge the pads into engagement with a persons back when the apparatus is supported as illustrated in FIG. 1. Suitable actuating means for causing the paddles to effect a rapid alternate motion include first and second eccentric cams 33 and 34 mounted to the shaft for the motor 21 for rotation thereby. These cams are positioned beneath the flexible bars respectively, the cams being out-of-phase to alternately lift the first and second bars when rotated. The action is such that the semi-rigid pads 29 and 31 will alternately pound against a persons spinal column disposed between the frame members as the carriage is moved up and down the frame, all as described with respect to FIG. 1.

Any suitable means for coupling the carriage to the frame members for up and down movement along the frame members may be provided. In the particular example illustrated in the drawings, the frame members 10 and 11 take the form of channels within which rollers 35 and 36 coupled to the carriage 20 ride. It will be understood with reference to FIG. 1 that the weight of the motor and carriage will bias the carriage to its lowermost position towards the lumbar region 17. However, by use of the connecting cables 24, the patient can pull the carriage up the tracks at any desired rate while the paddles reciprocate as described.

FIG. 3 shows the various elements looking in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIG. I wherein the semirigid pads 29 and 31 are shown in the same relative positions as depicted in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3 there are shown leads 37 connecting to a switch 38 conveniently positioned on the lower end 15 of the frame member 10 for manual operation by the patient when wearing the apparatus.

OPERATION In operation, whenever a patient desires to have a back massage, it is a simple matter to slip on the appa ratus by nestling the upper curved ends 12 and 13 over his or her shoulders so that the apparatus is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The patient then need only actuate the switch 38 described in FIG. 3 to energize the motor 21 and cause the paddles to rapidly move towards and away from his back, the resulting pounding action simulating that of a masseur's palms. The patient can then by pulling on the cable 24 move the carriage up the tracks to various positions along the spinal column or by relieving the pulling force on the cable, permit the carriage to move downwardly towards the lumbar region. Since movement of the carriage along the tracks is under control of the patient, any particular area of the spinal column which requires an extended massage treatment can be given such treatment by simply holding the carriage in the selected position.

Because of the cantilevering arrangement of the flexible bars for the paddles together with the cooperating lifting cam wheels rotated by the motor, there is no positive movement of the paddles towards the person's back so that the risk of any injury from the apparatus is minimized. In this respect, by adjusting the vertical position of the block 25 shown in FIG. 2 which cantilevers the paddle members, the effective engagement force of the paddles can be adjusted as well as the amplitude of the respective strokes. For example, and with reference to FIG. 2, if the block 25 is lowered, the eccentric cam wheels 33 and 34 will serve as fulcrums resulting in a raising of the pads 29 and 31 respectively so that they can be adjusted to barely touch the person's back. If the motor is now startedwith the pads in I this condition, a very light pounding of the back results.

On the other hand, if the block 25 is raised, permitting the effect of the downward biasing of the flexible bars to increase so that the pads in a rest position engage the back with a greater force, operation of the motor under these conditions will result in an increase pounding force on the back.

The motor 21 itself may be operated from conventional household current or alternatively may be supplied with a battery connected through the switch 38, carried on the carriage.

From the foregoing description. it will thus be evident that the present invention has provided an automatic back massaging apparatus which eliminates the need for a patient to call in an outside expert when a back massage is needed.

What is claimed is:

l. A back massaging apparatus comprising, in combination:

a. left and right shoulder frame members shaped to engage over a persons shoulders on either side of the neck at their upper ends, and extend down the back on either side of the spinal column to terminate at lower ends adjacent the persons lumbar;

b. cross members connecting the frame members at points adjacent to their upper and lower ends to hold the spacing between the frame members substantially constant, each of said frame members defining track means;

c. a carriage mounted on the track means for movement along the frame members to various positions between the persons neck and lumbar regions;

d. a motor carried on said carriage;

e. first and second paddle means carried on said carriage;

f. actuating means operated by said motor engaging the paddle means to cause rapid alternate movement of the paddle means against the persons spinal column; and

g. means manually operable by the person for moving the carriage up and down along the frame members while the paddle means are being actuated to thereby massage said spinal column.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, in which said paddle means include first and second elongated flexible sup port bars cantilevered from one side of said carriage, the ends of said bars extending transversely towards the other side of the carriage and terminating in semi-rigid pads, said bars biasing said pads into engagement with the persons back, said actuating means including first and second eccentric cams mounted on the carriage for rotation by said motor and positioned beneath said bars respectively, the cams being out-of-phase to alternately lift said first and second bars when rotated to thereby alternately move the pads to pound the persons spinal column.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, including means on said one side of said carriage to vary the distance of cantilevering of the bars from the carriage to thereby adjust the force of engagement of the paddles with the persons back. 

1. A back massaging apparatus comprising, in combination: a. left and right shoulder frame members shaped to engage over a person''s shoulders on either side of the neck at their upper ends, and extend down the back on either side of the spinal column to terminate at lower ends adjacent the person''s lumbar; b. cross members connecting the frame members at points adjacent to their upper and lower ends to hold the spacing between the frame members substantially constant, each of said frame members defining track means; c. a carriage mounted on the track means for movement along the frame members to various positions between the person''s neck and lumbar regions; d. a motor carried on said carriage; e. first and second paddle means carried on said carriage; f. actuating means operated by said motor engaging the paddle means to cause rapid alternate movement of the paddle means against the person''s spinal column; and g. means manually operable by the person for moving the carriage up and down along the frame members while the paddle means are being actuated to thereby massage said spinal column.
 2. The subject matter of claim 1, in which said paddle means include first and second elongated flexible support bars cantilevered from one side of said carriage, the ends of said bars extending transversely towards the other side of the carriage and terminating in semi-rigid pads, said bars biasing said pads into engagement with the person''s back, said actuating means including first and second eccentric cams mounted on the carriage for rotation by said motor and positioned beneath said bars respectively, the cams being 180* out-of-phase to alternately lift said first and second bars when rotated to thereby alternately move the pads to pound the person''s spinal column.
 3. The subject matter of claim 2, including means on said one side of said carriage to vary the distance of cantilevering of the bars from the carriage to thereby adjust the fOrce of engagement of the paddles with the person''s back. 